Checkrein-holder



(Model) W. A SCOTT, Jr.' 85 W. WEHRMEYER.

GHEGKREIN HOLDER.

No. 423,636 Patented Mar. 18, 18 90.

MJIIZUM u. PETERS Phokruthogmphar, Washingion. n c.

UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE. T

WILLIAM A. SCOTT, JR, AND WILLIAM WEHRMEYER, or PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

CHECKRElN-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 423,636, dated. March18, 1890. Application filed November 5, 1889. Serial No. 329,332.(Model) Towell whom it mag concern:

: Be it known that we, WILLIAM A. SCOTT, J r., a citizen of the UnitedStates, and WIL- LIAM WEHRMEYER, a subject of the Emperor of Germany,residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsyl-Vania, have invented or discovered a certain new and useful Improvementin Oheckrein- Holders, of which improvement the following is aspecification.

The invention described herein relates to certain improvements incheckrein-holders for horses, and has for its object such a construction of holder as will permit of a slackening of the checkrein andalso a retightening of the same by the driver without leaving the buggy.

In general terms the invention consists in the construction andcombination of mechanical devices or elements, all as more fullyhereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a perspective view showing our improved device attached to aharness on a horse. horizontal sectional viewof the rein-holder innormal position. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same with the rein slack.Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views.

In the practice of our invention a plate or bracket 1 is attached to thesaddle of a barness by a bolt 2;to which the plate is pivotallyattached. A block 8 is secured at its inner end to this pivotal plate,and a similar block 4 is hinged to the block .3. These blocks 3 and 4have axial holes formed therein, and in these holes are placed thespiral springs 5, having their inner ends secured in the bot toms of theholes, as shown in Fig. 2. The outer ends of the springs 5 are attachedto the cylinders 6, which are preferably made hollow and of suchexternal diameters as 'to' fit freely within the springs 5. Thecheckrein 12 is made in two parts, and the ends of said parts areattached to the outer ends of the cylinders or shells. As shown in Figs.2 and 3, the blocks 3 and 4 are so hinged together that when tension isapplied to the checkrein they move toward each other in the direction ofthe horses head; and in or Fig. 2 isa' der to prevent this movementexcept when desired a spring-catch'7 is fastened to one of the blocks,said catch being adapted when the blocks are in line with each other toen- 3 gage a pin or hook 8 on the other block and hold the blocks inline. The springs 5 are closely wound and made of such a length thatwhen free from tension they will lie wholly within the holes in theblocks and also pull the cylinders within their coils, as shown in Fig.2.

A small cord or strap 9 is attached at one end to the spring-catch 7,and, passing through guide-loops on the back and hip straps, the otherend, provided with a ring, hangs loosely on the horses back, where itcan be reached by the driver. By a pull on the cord 9 the catch isreleased from the pin 8 and the horse is permitted to drop his head, theblocks 3 and 4 turning forward into the position shown in Fig. 3. Whilethe blocks are in this position the springs 5 can be drawn out, so as toallow the horse to drop his head as far as desired.

In order to return the device to normal, position, the driving-reins arepulled slightly, causing the horseto throw his head up, there bypermitting the springs to retract into the blocks, carrying the shellsor cylinders 6 with them. As soon as the springs have returned to normalposition, as stated, the driver pulls the cord 10, one end of which liesloosely on the rump of the horse, and the opposite end is attached tothe bridle or strap 11, whose ends are secured to the blocks 3 and 4near their outer ends. By pulling on the cord 10 the blocks are turnedrearwardly and into line with each other, so as to permit thespring-catch to engage the hook 8,1ocking the blocks in line with eachother.

It will be readily understood that the cylinders'or shells cannot bedrawn out of the blocks by the horse except when the blocks are in theposition shown in Fig. 3, and that therefore the springs cannot be inany way distorted.

When a buck-strap is used in lieu of the checkreins, the free end ofsaid strap is connected by straps or chains to the cylinders 6 at theirouter ends.

tensible springs having one of their ends se-' cured within the holes inthe blocks, and checkreins connected to the opposite ends, substantiallyas set forth.

8. In a checkrein-hold'er, the combination of two swinging blocks havingaxial holes formed therein, spiral springs having one of their endssecured within said ho1es,"cylinders arranged within the springs andattached to the outer ends thereof, and checkreinsv connected to thecylinders, substantially as set forth.

4. In a checkrein-holder, the combination of two swinging blocks mountedon a plate adapted to be secured to the saddle of the. harness,checkreins, extensible connections uniting the checkreins and blocks,and a spring-catch for holding the blocks in line with each other,substantially as set forth.

5. In a checkrein-holder, the combination of two swinging blocks mountedon a plate adapted to be secured to the saddle of the harness,checkreins, extensible connections.

uniting the checkreins and blocks, a bridle or strap for drawing theblocks into line with each other, a catch for holding them in suchposition, andstrap's or cords connected to the bridle and catch-andextending back over the horse, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

WILLIAM A. SCOTT, JR. WILLIAM WEHRMEYER.

Witnesses:

DARWIN S. WoLcoTr, R. H. WHITrLEsEY.

